Garment finishing machine



Feb. 29, 1944. F. E.VHANSON 2,342,937

GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 53 f bA q- .5/ e 7 4 5 23 INVENTOR Y 2 @7001? f, Hansorz ATTorNEY Feb. 29,1944. F. E. HANSON GARMENT F INISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1940 l2Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTOR flan/r E, Hanson A TohNEY I Patented Feb. 29,1944 I UNITED i STATES- PATENT OFFICE Frank E. Hanson, Kansas City, Mo.,assignor of one-half to Charles B. Jones and one-half to John H. Richa,both of Kansas City, Mo.

Application August22, 1940, Serial No. 353,589

This invention relates to an apparatus for finishing fabric garments,particularly sleeves and other tubular portions thereof as disclosed incopending application Serial No. 293,882, filed September 8, 1939, thepresent invention being directed to improvements in apparatus andoperation thereof which facilitate adjustment of a garment on theinflatable bag.

Other objects of the invention are to limit inflation of the portion ofthe bag not covered by a garment under treatment; to retard escape ofthe inflating medium through portions of the bag not covered by thegarment under treatment; to provide means forabsorbing free moisture andcondensate that may be carried with heating element 4, a steam separator5, and a motor 6 as well as the various steam connections laterdescribed. The blower includes a casing l 1 supported on a post 8 alsolocated within the cabinet and carried on the base thereof. The

blower casing 1 has an air inlet opening 9 in a side thereof and aperipheral discharge nozzle is drawn into the blower anddischarged'through the inflating medium; to provide for uniformdistribution of the inflating and steaming mediums; and to provide meansfor maintaining the bag in partially distended position to facilitateapplication of a garment thereon.

In accomplishing these and other objects of.

the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improveddetails of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment finishing apparatus embodyingthe features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section through the apparatus par-- tieularly illustratingthe expandable bag, the

over-sleeve and the nozzle structure whereth nozzle Ill by a rotor 16,the rotor It being rotatably mounted within the casing and operativelyconnected with the motor 6.

The steam separator 5 may be of any suitable design but is preferablysupported on the blower casing as shown 'in'Fig. 2. The blower ispositioned on the standard 8 so that the heater carried thereby is inregistry with an air inlet opening I! formed in a side wall ofthevcabinet and which is preferably covered by a screen l8. In theillustrated instance the screen is carried by a frame l9 which issecured over the cabinet opening by fastening devices includingthumbscrews 20 which are readily manipulated to facilitate removal ofthe screen for permitting access to the interior of the cabinet.Connected with the nozzle l0 and extending outwardly therefromdistributor, a part of the central portion being broken away to shortenthe illustration. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the head of th*apparatus showing the sleeve ofa garment applied to the bag and theover-sleeve moved into position for restricting inflation and dischargeof the inflating medium from the portion ofthe has not covered by agarment.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the garment removed from the bag andthe over-sleeve in, retracted position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section ofFig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detailperspectiveview of the moisture absorbing and steam distribution p'ad,oversleeve, and bag,. in disassembled relation with an air nozzle andsteam distributor to better illustrate the construction thereof.Referring more in detail to. the drawings: I designates a finishingapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and whichincludes a cabinet-2 enclosing a blower l, a

on the line H is an arm 2| of arcuate cross-section and tapering inradius from that of the blower'nozzle to an end plate 22 at the outerend thereof. The arm is so positioned that the arcuate portion is"uppermost with the side edges facing downwardly as shownin-Fig. 7.Supported under the arm is a tube-like distributor .23 having aplurality of orifices 24. Q The distributor 23 is sub-Qstantiallycoextensive with the length of the armandcarries a T fitting2i onthe rear end thereof having its'lateral branch 26 connected by apipe 21 with a control valve 28.

The control valve 28 is located within the cabinet and'has its inlet 28connected with the upper portion or the steam separator I as shown inFig. 2. The valve 28 is operated to allow discharge of wet steam fromthe separator into the nozzle by means of a flexible connection II witha foot treadle 3| that projects from the bottom of the cabinet as shownin Fig. 1, so that it is in convenient each of the operator.

- To prevent steam from condensing within the nozzle, the nozzlepreferably includes a steam conductins Pipe 32 extending through apacking nut 33 carried by the T fitting 25 and through the nozzle to theforward end where it is provided with a return bend 34 and extendsretractively along the outer side of the nozzle and in heating relationwith the arm 21. The terminal end of the pipe extends into the interiorof the cabinet through an opening 35 in a side wall of the nozzle l andconnects with the lower portion of the separator as indicated at 36. Thenozzle is supported at its outer end by a fastening device such as ascrew 31 which connects the plate 22 with the return bend asshown inFig. 2.

Steam is supplied to the heater pipe from a manifold pipe 38 having itsinlet end 39 extending through the rear wall of the cabinet andconnected with a suitable source of steam supply (not shown). Formedas apart of the manifold is a T connection 40 which is connected by a tube4| with the inlet connection of the heater IS. The steam outlet of theheater is connectedv by a pipe 42 with the lower portion of theseparator 5 so that the condensed steam is discharged by way of theseparator through a pipe 43. Live steam discharged through thedistributoror con-.

densation of the discharged steam on the metal parts when the apparatusis first placed in operflexible fabric cloth'which is woven withsufficient tightness to provide limited permeability and effectballooning thereof for maintaining a pressure therein sufflcient todistend a garment to its normal size and shape and maintain thedistension until the fabric of the garment has set, as later described.

Since the bag must be of suflicient length to accommodate long sleevesas well as short sleeves,

the steam and air will escape through the portion of the bag not coveredby a garment. This escape of steam and air is not only uncomfortable .tothe operator of the machine, but the portion of the bag not restrictedby the garment tends to expand to its full diameter with the result thatthe band of the sleeve is stretched or belled out of shape. I thereforeprovide the bag with an over-sleeve 5| which is formed of materialhaving lesser or no permeability such as a closely woven fabric or afabric meshes thereof. The sleeve 5| is of a size corresponding tozthesize of the blower nozzle so that when it is pulled forwardly over thebag it does not reduce or restrict the flow of air discharged from theblower, however, I find it desirable to slightly gather in the outer endof the sleeve and secure it to a band 52 which is adapted to facilitatetelescoping movement of the sleeve over the bag. While the band 52slightly restricts the fiow of air at the end ofthe sleeve, it acts as aventuri to increase the discharged intovelocity of the air and steam theportion of the bag whichis to be expanded within the portion of thegarment under treatation. The steam-after circulating through the'heatenpipe, is delivered to the separator 5 where the condensate isdischarged through the pipe that 43 and the steam is used to moisten therelatively dry steam that is admitted through the manifold. When thevalve 28 is opened, the moistened steam flows into the distributor 23and is discharged through the orifices 24. In order to thoroughlydisperse the discharged steam and to absorb any condensate which mayhappen to collect within the distributor, as well as any condensatewhich may collect on the arm, the

arm is preferably covered with an absorbent padv 45. The absorbent padis preferably in tubular form so that it is sleeved over the arm incovering relation with the steam distributor and is formed of a porousmaterial capable of retaining moisture and giving sufficient porosity toallow uniform escape of the steam therethrough.

The bag 41 may be of a shape corresponding to the shape of the parts ofthe garment to be finished. For example. the machine illustrated isespecially designed for finishing the sleeves and similar tubularportions of garments and the bag is, therefore, of substantially cylin-'drical form when inflated as shown in Fig. 5. The bag is of large enoughdiameter to fully dlstend the largest tubular portion of a garment maybe placed thereon. The bag is closed at its outer 'end as indicated at48 and is provided at its opposib end with a tubular neck 48 that issleeved over the neck of the blower nozzle and firmly secured thereto bya drawstring 50. The bag thus described is formed of a flexiblematerialuwhich is permeable to the :steamLdischarged from the nozzle, aswell as a portion of the air discharged by the blower. For example, thebag may be constructed of 53. The sleeve need taken up in the series ofgathers as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Iri order to control distension of the bag, the nozzleof the blower isprovided with a butterfly valve 54 fixed on a shaft 55 that isjournalled within the sides of the nozzle and extends outwardly througha side wall of the cabinet to mount a knob 56 by which the valve ismanipulated. The extent of closure of the valve is adjustably limited sothat a small amount of air is being constantly discharged into the bagand the bag is always partially inflated. This is effected by a stopscrew 51 that is threaded through the top of the cabinet and throughthe-wall of the blower nozzle so that the terminal end thereof is inposition to be engaged by the butterfly valve when it is moved towardclosed position.

Carried by the base of the cabinet, directly below the bag, is a post 58adjustably mounting a bracket 59 carrying a shelf-like support 60whereon the untreated portion of the garment is supported as shown inFig. 1, the bracket being readily adjusted for height by a'handwheel 5|having a threaded stem 52 carried in the collar 53 of the bracket andadapted to engage against the post 58.

In operating the apparatus as above described, for example in finishingthe sleeve a of a garment b, it will be noted that the sleeveillustrated is relatively short with a narrow edge 0 while the upperportiond is especially full and the shoulder portion is puffed, so thatsuch a garment cannot be pressed in accordance with previous treated toclose theprocesses without many lays oi" the sleeve, and even then it isimpossible to remove all of the wrinkles, and especially as additionalwrinkles are introduced by overlays of the pressing operations.

If the garment is formed of a material having a pile or nap, thepressing operations are additionally aggravated, and it is impossible toobtain the desired results. However, when the garment is finished inaccordance with my improved method, all portions of the sleeve are fullydistended to their normal shape and the pile or na-p of the fabric israised, as now to be described.

When the machine is placed in operation; steam is circulated through thelegs of the heater 32 to bring the temperature of the steam distributorand arm to a point where steam contacting therewith will not condense.Simultaneously steam passes through the coils of the heater so as toheat the air being drawn into the blower casing and discharged throughthe nozzle. into the bag. The stop screw 51 is so adjusted that-thebutterfly valve 54 is retained partly open to maintain a slightdistension of the bag. The sleeve a of the garment b is then drawn overthe closed end of the bag 41. This is facilitated by the rigid characterof the arm 2i. Then by reaching through the neck e of the garment b, asufiicient amount of the bag may be drawn into the shoulder portion f ofthe sleeve a to provide sufficient fullness thereof to assure completedistension of the enlarged portions of the sleeve .as shown in Fig. 4.The valve 54 is then opened so as to allow greater amount of air tobedischarged into the bag and effect inflation thereof while the garmentis being smoothed and adjusted thereon. The over-sleeve is then drawnforwardly over the bag until the band portion 52 thereof approaches theedge e of the sleeve, so as to control distension of the bag 41,

p at this point, and prevent belling of the sleeve edge .0. Upon furtheropening of the air valve the bag is further distended. At this point theoperator places his foot on the treadle to effect opening of the steamvalve 28 so that moist steam from the separator 5 is discharged by wayof the nozzle into the interior of the bag to permeate therethrough andinto contact with the fabric of the garment to soften and enhancepliabilityof the fabric while it is being expanded to its normal shape.When the sleeve is fully distended and in its normal shape the-steamsupplyto the distributor is suspended, but the air supply is continuedso that the warm air maintains distension of the bag and a portionthereof permeates through the fabric thereof to dry and set the sleevea. When the air valve 54 is moved toward closed position the bag 41collapses so that the sleeve a may be readily withdrawn therefrom.

It is apparent that with the over-sleeve 5|, distension of the uncoveredportion of the bag is limited and permeation of the air and steam isrestricted to the portions'of the bag covered a by the garment. It isalso obvious that the absorbent pad covering the steam nozzle and thesupporting arm will take up any free moisture that may be dischargedwith the steam and thereby prevent this moisture from wetting the bagand retarding drying of the garment. The pad 46 also protects the bagfrom wear that would ordinarily occur if it should rub over the metalarm 2|. The condensed-steam absorbed by the pad helps to moisten thesteam so that it is in propercondition to treat the fabric of thegartributor 23. the pad soon dries so that the moisture does notaccumulate.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, including a support, ablower on the support having an outlet nozzle, a permeable flexible baghaving a mouth fixed to said nozzle and adapted for distension bypressure medium discharged by the blower to distend a garment placedover the bag, and a flexible over-sleeve telescoped over the bag andhaving one end fixed to said nozzle, said over-sleeve being formed oftightly woven fabric to prevent discharge of pressure medium through theportion of the bag covered by the over-sleeve.

2. An apparatus of the character described, including a support, ablower on the support having an outlet nozzle, a permeable flexible baghaving a mouth fixed to said nozzle and adapted for distension ;bypressure medium discharged by the blowerto distend a garment placed overthe bag, an over-sleeve telescoped over the bag and having one end fixedto said nozzle, and a band fixed to the other end of said sleeve andmovable over the bag to carry said over-sleeve in telescoping relationwith a selected portion of said bag, said over-sleeve being formed oftightly woven fabric to prevent discharge of pressure medium through theportion of the bag covered by the sleeve.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a steam distributor, anarm-like support carried by the distributor, a tubular absorbent padsleeved over the arm and covering the distributor, aflexible andpermeable bag loosely sleeved over the arm, means for admitting apressure medium into the bag to effect distension thereof, and means forsupplying steam to the distributor for discharge through the absorbentpad and permeation through the bag.

4. In an apparatus of the character described,

4 a steam distributor, an arm-like support carried by the distributor, aheater coextensive with the distributor, a flexible and permeable bagloosely.

sleeved over. the arm, means for admitting a pressure medium into thebag to efiect distension thereof, means for supplying steam to thedisincluding anexpandable bag formed of fabric material having limitedpermeability, means for introducing a pressure medium into the bag tcdistend the bag within a garment applied over a portion of the bag, anda fabric sleeve of less permeability than the bag and sleeved over thebag for restricting permeation of pressure medi-- um through the portionof the bag not covered by the garment.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a flexible andpermeable bag on the support adapted toreceive a-garment thereover anddistendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium introducedthereinto to restore the garment applied thereover to normal shape.means for supplying a fluid medium to the bag-for effecting distentionthereof, an over-sleeve upon the bag forme". of fabric material, adraw-string connected with one end of the over-sleeve for connecting theover-sleeve with the support. and a band carried by the'opposite end ofthe overxnents. When the steam is shut off from the dis- 1 sleeve andadi'u'stably movable over them.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a'support, a flexibleandpermeable bag on the support adapted to receive a garment thereover anddistendable in response to pressure of a fluid medium introducedthereinto to restore the garment applied thereoverv to normal shape,means for supplying a fluid medium to the bag for I effecting distentionthereof, and a single oversleeve having longitudinal and circumferentialflexibility and having one the support and having its opposite endmovable over the bag to limit distention ofthe bag to a selectiveportion thereof, said over-sleeve being continuous fromsaid connectedend to the" end movable over the bag to confine said the bag covered bysaid over-sleeve.

' 8. An apparatus for finishing garments including, a flexible mentthereover'and distendable in response'to pressure of a fluid mediumintroduced thereinto to restore the garment applied thereover to normalshape and-having limited permeability for restricted discharge of fluidmedium into con:-

tact with the garment, a flexible over-sleeve formed of fabric materialand having lesser permeability than the bag, and means fixing one end ofthe over-sleeve relative to the bag with the other end movable over thebag to cover that portion of the bag not covered by the garment appliedto the bag, said over-sleeve being of continuous unbroken-formation 'tolimit permeation oi said fluid medium tending to discharge through theportion of the .bag covered by said over-sleeve.

9. In an apparatus of the character described,

a support, a bag formed of flexible and permeable material and having amouth at one end thereof for attachment to the support, a singleoversleeve adapted for adjustment on the bag and .formed of a materialhaving flexibility longitudinally and circumierentially thereof and or,a character to limit permeation of fluid medium end connected with fluidmedium tending to be permeated through the portion ofby the opposite endof the sleeve to movement of the over-sleeve on the bag,.and

through the bag when the over-sleeve is moved over a selected portion ofthe bag, a band carried facilitate means for amxi-ng the opposite end ofthe oversleeve relative to the mouth of the bag, said oversleeve beingcontinuous in formation from one end to the other and capable of formingin gathers when the band carrying end of the oversleeve'is in retractedposition on the bag.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a flexiblepermeable bag carried by thei support, means for introducing a pressuremediurri into the bag for efiecting distention thereof-fa. valve forcontrolling admission of said pressure medium, an"o v er-sleeve havinglongitubag adapted to receive 'a-gar- 'a portion of the b .the me end ofthe eter than .the oversleeve and bag to produce a bag toincreasevelocity dinal and circumferential flexibility and adapted for movementover the bag to limit exp nsion or the portion of the bag not covered bya garment applied onthe bag, and ,means for limiting extent ot closureof the'vaive to admit pressure medium in slight excess oil the pressuremedium permeated through the bag for maintaining partial distentibnctthe bag to facilitate adjustment o'f'said flexible. over-sleeve on thebag.

11. An apparatus of the character described including, an expandable bagformed of a material having limited permeability, means forintroducing'a p'ressure medium into the bag to distend the bag within agarment applied over an over-sleeve of less permeability than the bagand'having one end fixed relatively to the'.'bag and the other beingmovable over the bag for restricting permeation of the pressure mediumthrough the portion of the bag not covered by the. garment, and a bandin oversleeve and of less diamslight restriction in'the of the pressuremedium entering the portion 01' the bag covered only by the garment.

' FRANK E. J HANSON.

